History

Markham District Energy is now well into its second decade of operations. Its first district energy system commenced operations in 2000 serving Markham’s emerging downtown core known as Markham Centre. In 2012, its second district energy system commenced operations serving Markham Stouffville Hospital and the surrounding area known as Cornell Centre. Below is a brief timeline of Markham District Energy’s history.

Our History Timeline

Late 1990s

An ice storm hits eastern Ontario and Quebec raising awareness of grid reliability and the role of community energy systems in providing local energy resiliency.

IBM Canada decides to locate its software facility in Markham Centre with the City of Markham’s district energy proposition contributing to its decision.

The Ontario government deregulates the power industry allowing, for the first time, district energy companies to supply electricity to the provincial grid.

2000

Construction of Markham District Energy’s first energy plant in Markham Centre, the Warden Energy Centre, is completed and operations commence to its first customer, IBM Canada.

2003

Services commence to Tridel Circa, the first of many high-rise residential condominium customers in Markham Centre.

2008

Markham District Energy commissions a 5 MW combined heat and power facility at the Warden Energy Centre, as the result of a contract with the IESO.

2009

Construction of Markham District Energy’s second energy plant in Markham Centre, the Clegg Energy Centre, is completed

Markham is awarded the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Federal Gas Tax Award for its investment in district energy.

Markham District Energy is awarded the Donald Cousens Conservation and Environmental Leadership Award at the Markham Board of Trade Business Excellence Awards.

2010

Construction of Markham District Energy’s third energy plant in Markham Centre, the Birchmount Energy Centre, is completed.

2011

Bell Canada locates a state-of-the-art data centre in Markham Centre with Markham District Energy as its primary energy provider, an outsourcing first for Bell Canada.

2012

Construction of Markham District Energy’s first energy plant in Cornell Centre, the Bur Oak Energy Centre, is completed and operations commence to the first Cornell Centre customers including Markham Stouffville Hospital.

2013

Markham District Energy is awarded the International District Energy Association’s System of the Year Award.

Markham District Energy commissions a 3MW combined heat and power facility at the Birchmount Energy Centre, as the result of a contract with the IESO.

2014

Markham District Energy commission a 4MW combined heat and power facility at the Bur Oak Energy Centre, as the result of a contract with the IESO.

2016

MDE partners with Pond Technologies with the goal of dramatically reducing GHG gas emissions from our district energy plants. The team enters the NRG Carbon XPrize competition and advances to the semi-final round in October.